We have been avidly following the news about a heroic chap in New Jersey who rescues cats that, for reasons, get themselves stuck up trees. Steve Murrow, a professional tree climber, does Cats in Arboreal Trouble (CiAT) work pro bono; he is coming up for his 40th shout. He is of course not the only person to do this, just the latest.

Now, you would never catch Belvedere or me up a tree. So we wondered why other cats do it. Chasing doomed birds or small rodents? Running away?Just for the hell of it?

Possibly it is because they can. And they are correct, going up a tree when you have four limbs, each equipped with its own gripper, and a tail for balance, is a doddle. Up is the key word here.

Going up, not a problem.

Coming down, on the other hand… this is where it all falls apart. You will recollect the story of Tigger (and Roo) stuck in the tallest pine tree in 100 Acre Wood tree, recounted in The House at Pooh Corner by A A Milne? They are in this situation as a direct result of Tigger’s hubris. He has bragged to Roo that Tiggers could climb trees better than anyone; halfway up, and far too late, It occurs to him that coming down will mean going backwards. Or falling off headfirst. Just as Roo is normalising the idea that he and Tigger would live in the tree forever, Christopher Robin arrives and organises a rescue of his own.

So why can’t they get down? Essentially, it is the design of the cat claw. They are engineered for climbing up, with the powerful shoulder and butt muscles pushing behind them. When the cat tries to come down face first, the claws are facing the wrong way and cannot carry the weight.

Rather than admit they did not think it through, most cats sit on their pinnacle indicating that they could come down any time they wanted to. They just happen not to want to. Only when they are hungry do they start to complain. That is time for Steve Murrow, who has pro equipment and protective gear, which he will need as cats are thoroughly ungrateful when rescued and lash out. They hate looking stupid.

For more about cat design and functionality take a look at our upcoming title How Cats Work.